Egg-case filler and method of making filler



June 26, 1928.

A. B. SEGUR EGG CASE FILLER AND METHOD OF MAKING FILLER Filed Feb. 4,1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 B @rm June 26, 1928. 1,675,278

A. B. SEGUR EGG CASE FILLER AND METHOD OF MAKING FILLER Filed Feb. 4,1924 s .sneets-Shee'r. 2

W i w Il [Ill Al I ifiw 2 Patented June 26, 1928.

" UNITED STATES PATENT, oFneE.

ASA B. sneun, or OAK IARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO :rI'rn-rAoK FILLERCOMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EGG-CASE FILLER AND METHOD OF MAKING FILLER.

Apphca-tion filed February My invention relates to egg case fillers, anobject of my present invention being to provide a new and improvedfiller.

One of the features of my invention is an improved filler constructionin which the strips making up the filler are more positively'lockedtogether when the tiller is open ready for use, and also more positivelylocked when the fill-er is collapsed .or folded up, so as to preventfanning and separation thereof.

Another feature of my invention is an improved construction of thefiller whereby the breakage of eggs is reduced, that is, -a flangeconstruction which reduces the shock from sud-den stoppage of the box inship ping.

Another feature of my invention is an im proved method of assembling thestrips for the egg case filler where a positive looking arrangement isused.

I also show herein an improved machine for carrying out in one way myimproved method of process for making tillers, which is direetedmoreparticularly to the provi sion of mechanism which separates or displacesthe strips during assembly so as to permit the use of a positiveloelrconstruction. Thismachin-e is the subject of a eopendingapplication, Serial Number 690,404; filed Feb. 4:, 1924.

' For a better understanding of my inventiou, reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 is a perspective View ofthe preferred form of egg case filer of my invention;

Fig, '2 is a detail view of the transverse strip;

Fig. 3 is a detail viewof the intermediate longitudinal strips, theoutside longitudinal strips differing from this. in being flanged asindicated in Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show various steps during the assembling operations ofthe filler;

Fig. 7 shows a portion of a filler in the egg crate detailing moreparticularly the new shock absorbing construction; v

Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7, showinga portion of the longitudinalstrip and the end of one of the transverse strips;

Fig. '9 is a view similar to Fig.7, but showing how the improvedconstruction 4, 1924;. Serial No. 690,403.

takes up the shock from the sudden stop;

longitudinal strip cooperative with the modified form of assembly stripof Fig. 11 to provide a more positive double hook locking arrangement[for the outside or flanged strips;

tion of the filler making machine; I p

' Fig. 13 is a view of a portion of Fig. 10, showing an operationot theflipper arm during the assembling of the filler;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view through a pory.-

Fig. 14- shows the operationotthe flipper for assisting in the ejectionof the assembled filler; and a Fig.15 is a left fa-ce view of Fig. 10with the punch andknife removed and portions broken away to more clearlyillustratethe assembling mechanism.

Reterringnow more in detail first to the ease filler, as shown in Figs.1 to 9, and

the method of making the same, .I- provide longitudinal and transversestrips A and B,,

as shown in Figs. 8 and 2, which strips are assembled to provide theusual cellular egg ease filler. In the most desirable form of myinvention, as shown in Fig. 1, I provide outer flanged strips A and'Awhich are out.

for assembling the same as strips A, but have the added feature of theflange formed and assembled to cooperate with the transverse strips B toact as a shock absorber to reduce the breakage of the eggs.

Now the difficulty heretofore has been in assembling the strips whenprovided with such a positive locking construction.

To overcome this I displace or shlitt lat- In the preferred form oflocking construction used I provide first of all slotted erally portionsof the strips during assem- Y portions in thetwo strips, which allowdis- I placementof the strips and permit complete pressing together andlockingithereof. In the one set of strips, as for example, longitndinalstrips A, I provide aligned slots 15 16, preferably simply wide enoughto clear the thickness of the other strips, and

aligned component slots 1718 in the other.

strips, as the transverse or assembly strips B. The outer ends of theslots, as 15 and 177,

tions.

have angular openings at 19 and 20, respectively, so as to provide amore ready registration and assembling of the strips as they are pressedtoward each other, as indicated in Fig. 4:. In order to lock the stripstogether a hook or nose portion 21 is provided, which is adapted toenter the slot 16 and hook under the hook-stopor edge 22 when the stripsare pressed together, as shown in Fig. 6.

The slots 15 and 16 are provided with lateral extensions at their insideends. This results in a great deal less tearing at the ends of the slotsduring the assembling op eration and seems to facilitate the operationof assembling.

It will be apparent that if it were attempted to simply push the twostrips A and B together while retained in their fiat position,

as indicated in Fig. 4, the paper would simply crumple up or the hook 21flatten or bend out of shape so that it would not enter slot 16 andlock. This might be avoided by providing plenty of clearance around allthe hooks, as indicated at'18 of the central slot so that the wallsection 23 between slots 15 and 16 would bend around the hook 21. Butthis would not provide a most effective lock or prevent fanning andseparation of the strips.

Heretofore in the assembling of partitions or strips by automaticmachine for the purpose of constructing fillers, the assembling toeffect interlocking of the parts has depended upon the ability of oneset of partitions to bend around a hook or look portion of the otherpartitions through a sufficient cutaway clearance to allow them to lookwhen pressed together. However, in such prior constructions theinterengaging slots and hook por tions of the strips or partitions havebeen such that suflicient clearance had to be allowed to permitassembling of the parts without destroying the interengaging hook por-Also the paper used varies with a variation in humidity, and varies inquality. Furthermore. the shape of the lock varied according tocondition of the dies. The assembling of the fillers also differed witha difference in atmospheric conditions as by destroying the lockinghooks or noses or interfering with the proper bending of the paperduring the assembling. To overcome this difliculty to some extent, theslot and hook construct-ions heretofore used have been such and providedwith such clearance that the partitions would not properly lock with thecell expanded for use, or would permit fanning and disengagement of thestrips when collapsed.

To overcome these difficulties I have first of all provided slotconstructions, preferably oppositely disposed and of such character thatthe slots on each strip grip the walls of the opposite strip in avise-like manner when the filler is collapsed. This prevents the fillerfrom being fanned out, that is the partitions pulled so as to give adiamond like appearance to the collapsed filler, and thereforepractically prevents the filler from being pulled apart during thefanning. This might otherwise occur during the handling or opening ofthe filler when it is to he placed in the egg case.

As noted from assembly strip B in Fig. 2, the center slot 18' has theclearance around the hook 21 but the other slotsare preferably withoutthe clearance so that the strips when assembled are sufficiently held bythe straight slots and oppositely disposed hooks to prevent fanning andseparation thereof. As previously stated, if it were attempted to pushthe two sets of partitions together while held flat or straight, asshown in Fi .4, the paper would crumple or the hook 21 %atten out orbend over, interfering with assembling of the strips and lockingthereof.

In order to properly assemble the strips with such a positive lockingand holding slot construction, this may be done by warping or displacinga portion of one strip (B) relative to the other so that the walladjacent the locking hook of one strip (B) is moved to one side topermit the other strip (A) to be swung on a pivot from its upper end bythe hook as it is descending and force its way over the hook intolocking engagement by the rotary or pivotal movement of the suspend, edstrip A. The direction of this pivotal movement is indicatedby thearrows at bottom of strips A in Figs. 4 and 5.

loo

done shortly after the two strips are in mesh,

and in practice inconnection with the standard fillers the movementbegins when the strips are overlapping approximately three eighths of aninch. The downward movement of B is of course continuing and thedisplaced portion of thestrip is moved to open the slot and sufficientlyclear hook 21 to permit longitudinal strip A'to be pushed laterally bythe down coming hook 21 until the hook is beneath the hook-stop, 22. Thestrip B then is free to spring back or be forced back into place and theparts are looked as indicated in Fig. 6. In the assembly operation Ipreferably block the sides of the longitudinal strips at the top so asto suspend them, you might'say, and permit a rotation or swingingmovement with the pivot point at the top where blocked, and the bottomfree to swing sufliciently to per- All tit]

mit the hook to freely pass the intermediate ments-38 in Fig. 4, andwhich will be more particularly pointed out in connection with themachine.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the hooks 21 in the slots 18 areoppositely disposed, thus assisting in preventing separation of thestrips. With the hooks oppositely disposed I do not find it necessary towarp or move laterally all of thesectious intermediate the slots, butonly some of them, and that by moving the sections'marked X an assemblymay be readily accomplished. That is, counting from the left in 2, thefirst, third, sixth and eighth sections.

Tliereis another feature to my filler previously referred to, and thatis the shock absorbing construction for reducing breakage. p r

'I-Ieretofore fillers have been constructed with flanged strips as A andA but the flanges were so constructed and held as to interfere with amost effective shock absorbing operation. In my improved construction,as more clearly illustrated in Figs- 7 to 9; the transverse strip B iscut away at 24 to clear the flange A, which flange is formed so as tobend beneath the flat or separator 25, as shown in Fig. 7. With thefiller in the crate and loaded, as shown in Fig. 7, the crate ispositioned for shipping, as in thefreightcar, with the flange of A inthe direction of Should there be a sudden stoppage, naturally thetendency is to carry the loaded fillers toward the end wall of thecrate. The

result is that theflange of A gradually takes up the shock of stopping.)bending from point 26 until the corner of the flane e abuts the stop 27.as shown in Fig. 9. This flange prevents the tips of the assembly stripsB from coming into sudden contact with the walls of the box and crush ngthem.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have shown a moditied form of lock for use inpreferably locking the outer or flanged strips A only. In using thislock, an L-shaped lock-stop is used instead ofa T, and a second hook asat 21 to engage a cooperating slotshown n B of Fig. 11. By the use ofthis double hook lock. it is more d -fiicultto separate the outer andmore exposed flanged. strip A from the strips B.

movement.

,B asstated.

Incarrying out my improved method in the manufacture and assembling ofthe im proved filler, I'preferably employ a machine as shown'in acopen-ding application for'cell case machines, Serial Niimber 584,087;modifiedso as to make theproperperforation: in the strips and assemblethem. V I

In Figs. 12 to 15 I have shown the modified portions of this machine.Generally stated the machine is arranged to cut and assemble strips fromcontinuous rolls of strawboard. using one 1-011 which is slitted andflanged to provide the longitudlnal strips A,"and a second roll'toprovide the d transverse or assembly strips In this machine the sheet isfed between slitting rollers to form'longitudinalEstrips A which are fedforwardly through intermittently operated feed rollers 27 passingbetween the we blades of the shears 28 which are operated to severthez'fillers as they are completed. The 'slots 151'6 are cut inthestrips A by suitable punch mechanism and these strips as they arefed: along" are stopped momentarily. as each set of. slots 1516reaches aposition beneath the assembly strip B, so as to permit the assemblystrip to be forced down over strips A. 'The'strips B have their slotspierced by the punch 29asthe' sheet moves downwardly, [the transversestrips being severed by the cooperating knife blades 3031 constructedfro double plates so as to cut a clearance 24 at each end of thetransverse strips to receive the flange. The stationary blade 31 extendsacross the machine and i's notched at. points 31 at eachstrip A, A A soasto set beneaththe tops of strips whereby the vassembly stripispositively severed at a point ;not above the tops of the strips 'A.:An

auxiliary knife 31 has its-cutting edge set above the cutting edge of 31to cooperate with the auxiliary blade 80 of the swingingknife to clearthe corners'24: of strips As previously stated, I haveprovided apositive interlocking construction and in order to assemble the stripspreferably transversely move or Wrap portions of the strips out of theplane of the sheet, and to this end have provided mechanism including aflipper device C adapted to engage portions of the transverse orassembly strip as it is descending over the longitudinal strips. Thisflipper C comprises a pivotally mounted shaft 32 having fingers '33,3 1. 35 and 36 extending upwardly between or alongside the longitudinalstrips A. Normally. when the assembly strip starts to-dcscend. thesefingers are back in the position indicated inFig. 13.

As the transverse strip moves downwardly the flipper arms of C aremovedforwardly by means of the link mechanism- 3.? con- 'nected to theend of the, flipper shaft 32, until these fingers engage and move thepertions X forwardly. These portions X are moved to sufficiently clearthe books 21 to permit the longitudinal sections A to be swung clear ofthe hook 21 so that the hook can engage under the locking slot 22. Thislateral movement of strips A is a pivotal one, swingingfrom the point ofsuspension at the top and to this end blocks 38 are placed alongsideeach longitudinal strip as indicated at only the center strip A of Fig.15 and by the dotted lines in Fig. 12. These blocks 38 stop back of theblades of the shears 28, but in order to support the tops of the stripsat a point closer to the line of assembly, I provide fingers as 39 whichreach over the shears 28 as indicated in Fig. 12.

These fingers are not needed at every point but only as indicated inFig.1?) by the dotted lines of 39. As the two sets of strips are beingforced together, the slots in the assembly set are separated by theflipper fingers as stated and also this causes the slots in the otherset to separate as already described, permittnig an easier assembly ofthe strips.

In actual practice, and in connection with the regular commercialfillers, I secure a suitable operation by having the flipper fingersstart forward with the transverse strip down a quarter of an inch, stopwhen the strip is down three-eighths of an inch, staying there until thestrip is down one and three-eighths of an inch, then starting back andcrossing the assembly line as. the strip is down one and one-half of aninch. The strips are from two and one-fourth to two and fivesixteenthsinches wide. The transverse or assembly strip, of course, continues itsmovement downwardly until fully assembled and after the hooks 21 snapinto the locking slot the strainon the longitudinal strips is released,thereby permit-ting the portions X of the transverse strip. to move backinto their normal plane. they having been held over by the longitudinalstrips after having been once moved out of alignment by the flipperfingers. During the downward travel of the assembly, strip B, theportions inter mediate the moved portions X sometimes curl toward thefront or back, but in order to keep them in vertical position I provideguides in the form ofv thin strips 40 and 41 secured to the front andback of the flipper shaft between which the ends enter as the strinmoves downwardlv to full assembly.

The assembling having been completed, the cutter knives 30-31.cut offthe transverse strip and thefiller is then moved forward the distance ofone cell for the next assembling operation.

During this longitudinal feeding movement after the assembling, due toclogging of the parts or other reasons,the cell sometimes sticks and afree feeding by the rollers 27 is not effected. To assist this feedingand prevent sticking I cause a second operation of the flipper fingers,as indiqated in 14. That is, during the long tudinal feeding of thefiller and before the feed of one section is completed, anotheroperation of the flipper fingers is effected, as indicated.

. What I claim as-new and desire to secure by United States LettersPatent is:

1. A cellular filler comprising interlocking longitudinal and transversepartition strips to form cells, the locks for said stripslbeing formedof separated transversely; aligned straight slots andanintermediatewallportion in one strip, and separated transversely alignedstraight slots in the other strip hav-,

being positioned to engage the end of one i of the other straight slotsto lock the strips,

when assembled, the said hook. containing slots. having a lateral.extension of the slot at .theend thereof. r

2. A cellular filler comprising interlocking longitudnal and transverse.partition strips to form the cells, the lock construction for saidstrips being formed of a transverse slot arrangement in the first stripsubstantially of the thickness of the otherstrip so, as to closelyembrace it when assembled and a hook-stop, and a transverse parallelsided slot arrangementin said other strip. substantially of thethickness of the first strip so as to closely embrace it when assembledand with a lock hook disposed intermediate of said latter slot disposedto engage the hookstop. said latter slot continuing around the hook asof a width substantially of the thickness of the engaged strip, each ofsaid lock 'hook strips including seven slots the outerones of which,have the hooks facing towards the end of the strip, the next two slots,from each end having facing hooks,

arated by flat spacer members, each filler comprising vertically walledcells formed by the interlocking of partitions extending transversely ofthe container from one side wall to the other and;other partitionsextending longitudinally of the container and terminating short of bothend walls. one' of the vertical partitions at eachend of the fillerbeing bent upon itself to afford a flange extending below and clear oftheflat spacer and resting upon the longitudinal clear of the twoextensions of the next lower partitions and projecting beyond the tipsof filler causing said extensions to flex the said 10 the latter topresent a free edge towards the two partitions to gradually take up theshock adjacent end container wall, the transverse of sudden starting orstopping of travel of, partition to which each of the said flange thecontainer. extensions is adjoined being transversely In witness whereof,I hereunto subscribe flexible, each flat spacer member being free of myname this 12th day of January, 1924. interlock with the fillers spacedthereby and ASA B. SEGUR.

